Bangkok – The Hub for Southeast Asia

As I read reports of the Bangkok airport being shutdown by protesters, I remember back to when my wife and I arrived in Bangkok for our trip through Southeast Asia.

We flew from Toronto to Hong Kong via Alaska (no we couldn’t see Russia).  We had the entire day in Hong Kong, which was an incredible start.  You see, Southeast Asia is like nothing you will ever see in North America or Europe; not even Chinatown in Toronto or Vancouver does it any justice.  The air, the smells, the food, the streets, the people, the architecture, etc… are all amazing to experience, especially when jet-lagged.

We flew into Bangkok late that evening.  It was chaos.  Tuk-tuks everywhere and rain.  We checked in and slept very well.

The next couple of days included us touring Bangkok on foot and by boat.  One particular stroll had us walking to the Grand Palace and our first interesting encounter with a Buddhist Monk.  Because they cannot be alone with or touch women, he purposely asked my wife to move to the other side of the sidewalk.  He couldn’t be nicer as he explained the history of the Grand Palace and what he was studying at school.

We found it to be a very peaceful place.  We met some great friends while staying along the Khao San Road.  Whether it was the Palaces, the houses along the Chao Phraya River or the markets, Bangkok was inspiring and it truly opened our eyes.

From there we jumped to other parts of Southeast Asia including Laos and Vietnam.

To think that political turmoil has gripped the city and affected hundreds of thousands of visitors is disappointing.  We can only hope for a peaceful resolution to what is a first-rate city and a highly recommended travel experience.

Update:  Protests to End

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